Bookrack and kneeler stop



Sept. 6, 1966 R. J. GONDAR 3,271,069

BOOKRACK AND KNEELER STOP Filed Oct. 6, 1965 Rudolph J. Gondar Dgfio 6M8 ATTORNEYS United States Patent Oflice Patented Sept. 6, 1966 3,271,069 BOOKRACK AND KNEELER STOP Rudolph J. Gondar, 11 Shelton Road, Shelton, Conn. Filed Oct. 6, 1965, Ser. No. 493,356 Claims. (Cl. 297192) This invention relates to bookracks, and more particularly relates to bookracks used in religious services, which services include the use of a pivotal kneeling devlce.

In many religious services it is the custom to kneel at various times during the service, and for this purpose low benches, usually referred to as kneelers, are provided. Such kneelers are pivotally mounted towards the back of a pew and may be pivoted downwardly to provide a kneeling surface, and subsequently pivoted upwardly to a position within the outline of the fronting pew. Such pivoting of the kneeler quite often results in generation of sharp noises as the unpadded ends of the kneelers strike wooden stops provided therefor.

In these religious services there occurs from time to time the necessity for use of hymn or prayer books in readings and in the singing of hymns, and provision must be made to store and position such books in proximity to the user. This is usually done by racks placed on the back of the fronting pew.

The present invention provides a combination kneeler stop and bookholder which provides a new and improved means for stopping a kneeler when it is pivoted to its stored position and, further, provides facility for storing books used during the religious service.

An embodiment of the invention may be so constructed and arranged as to deaden rather sharp sounds of the kneelers hitting their stops as they are raised to a stored osition and, further, may be so constructed and arranged that the bookhol-der resides either on the back of the facing pew or conveniently located beneath the seat thereof. Devices embodying the invention are compact and do not detract from the clearance between a seat and the back of the next forward seat.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for use in conjunction with a pew in a religious institution so as to cooperate with the pew and provide new and improved kneeler stops and, also, bookholders.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved kneeler stop of the type described which is also effective to support a bookholder.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved device of the character described which is easily fitted to an existing pew and so arranged as to substantially silently take up the shock of the kneeler being raised to a storing position, and further provide a new and improved means for holding books used during the religious services.

The features of the invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity and distinctly claimed in the concluding portion of this specification. However, the invention both as to its organization and operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be appreciated by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the drawings, wherein:

FIG. I is an elevation of a pew seen in vertical section with a device embodying the invention mounted thereon;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a bookrack and kneeler stop embodying the invention as it appears dernounted from the pew of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another bookrack and kneeler stop embodying the invention.

One preferred form of a kneeler stop and bookholder embodying the invention is identified by the reference numeral 10 and is mounted to the underside of a pew, generally indicated by the reference numeral 11. Each pew comprises a pair of upright support members 12 (only one shown), a seat 13 supported by the support members 12, and a seat back 14. Pivotally mounted to the support members 12 at the bottom rear thereof, is a kneeler generally indicated by the reference numeral 15. The kneeler 15 generally comprises spaced apart pivotal arms 16 pivotally mounted to members 12 at 17 and a kneeling board 18, which may be padded, extending across the arms. Bumpers 19 are usually mounted to arms 16. It has been the practice to position stopping blocks, not shown, on members 12 to engage and stop arms 16 of the kneeler when it is raised to a stored position as indicated in broken line. Inasmuch as the stopping blocks, as well as arms 16, are generally formed of wood, there is likely to be a series of sharp sounds when all the kneelers are raised. The kneeler is shown in its operative position in FIG. 1 arranged for persons to kneel upon. A device embodying the invention in one function thereof acts as a stop for the kneeler when it is pivoted to a stored position, shown in dotted line, and generally comprises a pair of V-shaped leg members 20 having a turned-out flange 21 adapted to be bolted, as at 22, to the underside of seat 13 intermediate the front and back edges thereof. The other end of the leg portion 20 has an L-shaped flange 23 which is bolted at 24 to the underside of the seat and at 25 to the back edges thereof. Leg members 20 are thus securely attached to the pew in such manner as to readily absorb the shock of the kneeler 15 striking and stopping thereon. The L-shaped flange 23, particularly the connection of vertical portion 23a thereof to the back edge of seat 13 by means of bolt 25, takes a major portion of the shock of the kneeler striking leg 20 and prevents a shearing action on bolts 22 and 24. Attached to and supported by and between legs 20 is a bookholder or rack, indicated by the reference numeral 26. Bookraek 26 generally comprises sidewall portions 27, 28 and 29 having an upstanding wall portion and horizontal ledge portions. The ledges of side pieces 27 and 28 are joined at the open edge thereof by a strip 30. Strip 30 and the ledge of wall member 29 are joined by a relatively wide strip 31 so that the ledges, strip 30 and strip 31 define a bookholder for two books. If desired, a divider 32, indicated in broken line, may be extended from the midpoint of the opening to prevent cocking or turning of the books when they are inserted into the rack.

The sidewall members 27 and 28 may be secured to the leg members 20 by any suitable means, such as weld ing. Additionally, the stopping surfaces of legs 20 may be covered or coated with a resilent cushioning material 33 to deaden sound where the kneeler board 18 is not padded. The material 33 may be positioned on legs 20 by bonding thereto, casting thereabout or any other suitable means.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of the invention wherein the legs 20 are provided with extensions 20a arranged to extend upwardly to the back 14 of the scat above flange 23. Extending between extensions 20a is a bookrack 34 comprising strap members 35 and 36, together with a ledge member 37 which may be formed integrally with bottom strap 36. The ends of the straps are formed in an L-shaped flange 38 which is mounted to extensions 20a by spot welding, riveting, or other suitable means. The bookrack 34 thus serves to properly space apart and join arms 20 in the same manner as rack 26. If desired, extensions 20a and strap members 35 and 36 may be provided with common apertures to permit bolting of the structure to seat back 14.

It may thus be seen that the objects of the invention set forth above as well as those made apparent from the 3 preceding description are efficiently attained. Inasmuch as other embodiments of the invention as well as modifications to the disclosed embodiment thereof may occur to others, the appended claims are intended to cover all embodiments of the invention which do not depart from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

1, For use in combination with a church pew including floor-mounted upright members supporting a seat thcrebctween and a kneeler extending between the upright members and pivotally mounted therebetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally 90 therefrom between the upright members; a kneeler stop and bookrack comprising a pair of spaced apart arms adapted to be fastened to the underside of the seat and provide substantially vertical surfaces depending from the seat adapted to stop the kneeler when pivoted to a storing position, and rack means carried between said arms for storing books therein.

2. For use in combination with a church pew including floor-mounted upright members supporting a seat therebetween and a kneeler extending between the upright members and pivotally mounted therebetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally 90 therefrom between the upright members; a kneeler stop and bookrack comprising a pair of spaced apart arms adapted to be fastened to the underside of the seat and provide substantially vertical surfaces depending from the seat adapted to stop the kneeler when pivoted to a storing position, and rack means carried between said arms and adapted to store books therein beneath the seat, said rack means holding said arms in predetermined spaced apart relation.

3. For use in combination with a church pew including floor-mounted upright members supporting a seat therebetween and a kneeler extending between the upright members and being pivotally mounted therehetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally 90 therefrom between the upright members; a kneeler stop and bookrack comprising a pair of arms, each of said arms being of generally V shape and adapted to be mounted to the seat on the underside thereof, one leg of the V adapted to be mounted adjacent the back of the seat and provide a substantially vertical surface arranged to stop said kneeler when pivoted to a storing position, the other leg of the V extending from the bight thereof toward the front of the seat and secured at the free end thereof to the underside of the seat, said surface providing legs being formed at the free end thereof to mount against the back of the seat, and rack means carried between said arms for storing books therein, said rack means being constructed and arranged to space said arms in predetermined relation when said kneeler stop and bookrack is unmounted.

4. For use in combination with a church pew including floor-mounted upright members supporting a seat therebetween and a kneeler extending between the upright members and being pivotally mounted therebetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally 90 therefrom between the upright members; a kneeler stop and bookraek comprising a pair of arms, each of said arms being of generally V shape and adapted to be mounted to the seat on the underside thereof, one leg of the V adapted to be mounted adjacent the back of the seat and provide a substantially vertical surface arranged to stop said knceler when pivoted to a storing position, the other leg of the V extending from the bight thereof toward the front of the seat and secured at the free end thereof to the underside of the seat, said rack means being constructed and arranged to space said arms in predetermined relation when said kneeler stop and book is unmounted.

5. The kneeler stop and bookrack of claim 4 wherein said surface-providing legs are formed at the free end thereof with an L-shaped flange adapted to abut the underside of the seat and the back edge thereof.

6. The kneeler stop and bookrack of claim 4 wherein said bookrack is carried between said arms beneath the seat.

7. The kneeler stop and bookrack of claim 4 wherein said surface-providing legs are constructed and arranged to extend upwardly on the back of the seat, and said rack is carried between said extensions.

8. For use in combination with a church pew including floor mounted upright members supporting a seat therebetween and a kneeler pivotally mounted therebetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally ninety degrees therefrom, a pair of arms fastened to the seat at spaced apart points with respect to the width of the seat, said arms being spaced apart with respect to the length of the seat, each of said arms being of generally V shape with the leg of the V nearest the back of the seat providing a substantially vertical surface, arranged to stop said knecler when pivoted to a storing position, the other leg of the V extending toward the front of the seat and secured at the free end thereof to the underside of the seat, said surface providing legs being formed at the free end thereof in an L-shaped angle to abut against the underside and back of said seat, means for mounting the free end of said vertical leg to said seat, and rack means carried by said arms for storing books therein.

9. For use in combination with a church pew including floor mounted upright members supporting a seat and back therefor, therebetween, and a kneeler pivotally mounted therebetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally ninety degrees therefrom, a pair of spaced apart arms fastened to the seat at spaced apart points with respect to the width of the seat, each of said arms being of generally V shape with the leg of the V nearest the back of the seat providing a substantially vertical surface, arranged to stop said kneeler when pivoted to a storing position, the other leg of the V extending toward the front of the seat and secured at the free end thereof to the underside of the seat, said surface providing legs being formed at the free end thereof to mount against the back of the seat, and rack means carried by said arms for storing books therein.

10. For use in combination with a church pew including floor-mounted upright members supporting a seat therebetween and a kneeler extending between the upright members and pivotally mounted therebetween for pivotal movement between a horizontal kneeling position and a storing position generally perpendicular to said kneeling position between the upright members; a kneeler stop and bookraek comprising a pair of spaced apart arms adapted to be fastened to the seat and depend below the seat and provide substantially vertical surfaces adapted to stop the kneeler when pivoted to a storing position, and bookrack means carried between said arms for storing books therein.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,706,517 4/1955 Dexter et al. 297-188 3,023,049 2/1962 Hilliard 297426 3,160,438 12/1964 Davis 297-l92 3,180,680 4/1965 Landvik 297192 FOREIGN PATENTS 841,518 7/1960 Great Britain.

FRANK B. SHERRY, Primary Examiner.

J. T. MeCALL, Assistant Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,271,069 September 6, 1966 Rudolph J. Gondar It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

Column 3, line 74, for "book" read bookrack (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M. FLETCHER, JR.

Attesting Officer EDWARD J. BRENNER Commissioner of Patents 

1. FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH A CHURCH PEW INCLUDING FLOOR-MOUNTED UPRIGHT MEMBERS SUPPORTING A SEAT THEREBETWEEN AND A KNEELER EXTENDING BETWEEN THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTED THEREBETWEEN FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT BETWEEN A HORIZONTAL KNEELING POSITION AND A STORING POSITION GENERALLY 90* THEREFROM BETWEEN THE UPRIGHT MEMBERS; A KNEELER STOP AND BOOKRACK COMPRISING A PAIR OF SPACED APART ARMS ADAPTED TO BE FASTENED TO THE UNDERSIDE OF THE SEAT AND PROVIDE SUBSTANTIALLY VERTICAL SURFACES DEPENDING FROM THE SEAT ADAPTED TO STOP THE KNEELER WHEN PIVOTED TO A STORING POSITION, AND RACK MEANS CARRIED BETWEEN SAID ARMS FOR STORING BOOKS THEREIN. 